Concentrator.



APBLIOATION EILBD 1113.2! 1911.

1.11. WILPLEY. GONCENTRATOR.

vPatented Apr. 2, 1912.

6 BHEETB-SHEET 1.

COLUMNA FLANUGRAPM co.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

A. R. WILFLEY. CONGBNTRATOR. APPLIGATION FILED PBBnz, 1911'.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

COLUMBIA WRAP!! 00.. WASHINGTON, DA lC.

A. 11. WILFLEY.

I ooNcENTRAToR. ABPLIOA'TION FILED 113.2, 1911. 1,021,96 1 Patented Apr.2, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

cuLuMBIA VLAN c.

A. R. WILPLEY.

GONCENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.2, 1911.

Patented A111225 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

oootooooomoabodqoouoo COLUMBIA PLANoaIlAPl-l C0., WASHINUTDN, D. c.

ARTHUR R. WILFLEY, 0F DENVER, COLORADO.

CONCENTRATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 2, 1911.

Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

Serial No. 606,196.

To all whomjt may concern:

Be -it known that I, ARTHUR R. WILELEY,

a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county ofDenver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Concentrators; and I do declare the'following to be afull, clear, d

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use t-he same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the rcharactersof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in concentrators adapted forthetreatment of ore, whereby the concentrates or values are separatedfrom the gangue. y,

In the simplest form of my improved construction I employ a table havingone or more decks, which is adapted to be held at a certain inclinationduring the separation of the concentrates from the gangue during the,treating of a given charge of ore, after which the said table isautomatically and suddenly thrown to a position of increasedinclination, whereby the concentrates thereon are quickly dischargedfrom the table, the latter being suddenly raised to its original or whatmay be termed its initial position. In my improved construction asillustrated in the drawing I employ two double-deck tables arranged tobe alternately thrown to a position of increased inclination. That is tosay7 the table on one side of the tilting axis being held in theposition of least inclination or nearly level during the time that thetable on the opposite side of the tilting aXis is dropped to itsposition of greatest inclination. Provision is made to automaticallyVcut off 'the feed from each table during a considerable interval beforeit drops to its position of greatest inclination, since the feed of pulpto the table is only continued during approximately onehalf the rotarymovement of cams employed for controlling the tables.' In other words,the pulp is fed to the table until the latter is loaded, the tableduring this time being in` a position almost level or only slightlyinclined. The feed of the pulp thereto is then automatically cut off,and the table by virtue of its cam control drops to a slightly increasedinclination. During this time the concentrating function is performed,resulting in the stratiiication of the material upon the table, wherebythek gangue is separated from the values. During the performance oftheconcentrating function wash water is discharged to the table, this waterbeing automatically turned onto the table simultaneously withl thecutting olf of the feed of theY pulp thereto. The discharge of the washwater to the table is continued until the latter through theinstrumentality of'its cam' control drops to its position of steepestinclination, since this water facilitates the discharge of theconcentrates, which is accomplished during the last named position ofthe table. f

Provision is also made for automatically raising and lowering troughs,one of which is adapted to receive the discharge `of the gangue, duringthe treatment of the mate-A,

rial for the purpose ofl separating the gangue from the values, whilethe other is employed to receive the discharge of the concentrates. Inorder that these troughs may be respectively brought into position toreceive the discharge from the table when in differently inclinedpositions, it is necessary that they shall be raised and loweredsimultaneously with the imparting of the corresponding movements to thetable.

As illustrated in the drawing the tables are transversely inclined and alongitudinal reciprocating movement is imparted thereto for the purposeof separating the values from the gangue. This reciprocating movement iscontinuous regardless of the inclination of the tables.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed todescribe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing: Figure l is` an end view of my improved concentratingapparatus, a portion .of the mechanism being shown in section taken onthe line 1-1, Fig. 2, looking toward the left. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection taken approximately on the line 2-2,y

Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3'-3, Fig. 2,looking toward the left. Fig.' 4 is a top plan view` of theconstruction, the tables on both sides being partly broken away. Fig. 5is a detail view illustrating the head motion and the means foroperating the cam shaft employed to perform the automatic functions ofthe machine. This is a view looking in the direction of arrow 5, Fig.Fig. 6 is a section taken approximately on the line 6-*6, Fig. 5,viewing the operating mechanism in a position at right angles to Fig. 5.Fig. 7 is a top plan view in detail of one of the tiltable tables. Fig.8 is a top plan view in detail of a set of troughs arranged to receivethe gangue and concentrate discharge from the tables. Fig. 9 is afragmentary perspective detail view of the bottom of one of the feedhoppers mounted on the upper longitudinal edge of the concentratingtable, the same being constructed and arranged to deliver pulp or washwater, as the case may be, simultaneously to both decks of the table.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate an upright rectangular frame upon the top ofwhich are supported two water troughs 6, while above these troughs andcentrally located between them is a pulp trough 7. The t-wo watertroughs 6 have openings 8 in their bottoms for the escape of the waterthrough depending nozzles 9 with which each trough is provided, the saidnozzles being arranged to deliver water to hoppers 10 carried byconcentrating tables 12 hinged upon a centrally located shaft 13, thesaid shaft being mounted in bearings 14 secured to the top of an uprightframe 15 located within the area surrounded by the fralne 5, the top ofthe frame 15 being considerably below the top of the frame 5 in order topermit the necessary feed of water and pulp to the tables.

The two water troughs 6 are adapted to be alternately placed incommunication with a main supply trough 16 (see Fig. 4), by means ofaswinging gate 17 hinged at 18,

and actuated in a manner hereinafter morey fully explained.

The pulp from the trough 7 is fed continuously to a deflector 19arranged above the hoppers 1() and extending longitudinally of thestructure. This deflector consists of two downwardly inclined wings 20and a centrally located, upwardly extending member 21 to whose oppositeextremities are connected rods 22 as shown at 23, the oppositeextremities of the rods being connected with arms 24 of bell cranklevers 25 fast upon shafts 26 ournaled on the framework 5, and whoseopposite arms 27 are pivotally connected as shown at 28 with rods 29which pass downwardly through guides 30 mounted on the upright frame 5.Between these guides and stop collars 31 on the rods are coil springs 32which have a tendency to maintain the deflector in such a position thatthe pulp discharge from the trough 7 is on one side of the member 2l,whereby the pulp passes to the hopper 1() of the right-hand table,referring to Fig. 1.

The lower extremity of each rod 29 is pivotally connected as shown at 33with a rod 34 whose opposite extremity is pivoted on the frame 5 asshown at 35. A cam 36 fast on a cam shaft 37 acts upon each rod 34 atpredetermined intervals, to force downwardly the extremity of this rodconnected with the rod 29, whereby the bell crank levers 25 are actuatedto shift the deflector so that its member 21 shall occupy a position atthe right of the stream of pulp from the pulp trough, referring to Fig.1, thus allowing the pulp to pass to the opposite or left-hand table ofthe structure, still referring to the same figure.

Simultaneously with the movement of the defiector 19 through the mediumof the cams 36 and their connections as just described, the gate 17 willbe actuated in a direction opposite from the member 21 of the deflectorthrough the medium of a crank arm 38 fast on one shaft 26 and extendingin a direction opposite from the arm 24 of the bell crank lever, thesaid crank arm 38 being connected at its upper extremity as shown at 39with a rod 40, connected in operative relation with the gate 17 (seeFig. 4). By the movement of the gate 17 in the opposite direction fromthe member 21 of the deflector, the water from the main trough 16 isturned into the water trough 6 on the side of the structure from whicht-he pulp feed has been cut off, thus allowing the water to dischargeupon the table after the pulp has ceased to pass thereto. The object ofthis construction and arrangement is the employment of the wash water inthe separation of the values from the gangue and to facilitate thedischarge of the concentrates from the table 12 located on the side ofthe water discharge, since at the same time that the pulp feed is cut ofrom a table, the table is tilted, first slightly and later to arelatively steep inclination, for the purpose of discharging theconcentrates accumulated thereon during and after the period when thepulp is fed thereto. From this it will be understood that the two tablesare alternately tilted to a relatively steep inclination for the purposeof discharging the concentrates therefrom, the concentrate discharge ofone table taking place while the pulp is fed to the other table or whilethe concentrates are accumulating upon the latter.

As illustrated in the drawing each table 12 is composed of two decks 41and 42, both of which are rigidly connected at their edges adjacent theshaft 13 by means of hinge sleeves 43, each of which has two separatedarms 44, one of which is secured to one deck and the other to the otherdeck of the table, the two being suiiiciently separated for the purposeof permitting the water and pulp to pass freely to the lower deck fromthe hopper 10, which is provided with two distinct sets of openings 45and 46, the openings being formed straight through the bottom of thehopper and the upper deck, allowing the material to pass to the lowerdeck, while the openings 26 are angle-shaped and arranged to dischargematerial upon the upperdeck, the angleshaped openings being formed inthe bottom member 47 of the hopper, this member engaging the upperlongitudinal edge of the upper deck and projecting above the same. Theconstruction and arrangement yof these openings is best illustrated inFig. 9.

Both tables 12 are given a` longitudinal vibration through the medium ofan eccentric 48 fast on an operating shaft49, and whose strap 50 isconnected by means of a pin 51 wit-h the forward extremity of a link 52whose opposite extremity is connected with the forward end of the shaft13 which is mounted to reciprocate in the bearings 14. The hinge sleeves43 which connect the tiltable tables with the shaft 13 are so arrangedthat the longitudinal vibration is simultaneously imparted to bothtables, the hinge sleeves having no longitudinal movement on the shaft.In order to connect the link 52 with the forward extremity of the shaft13, the'link is provided with an enlargement 53 in which is formed asocket into which the forward extremity of the shaft protrudes, thishollow extremity of the link being connected with the shaft byawedge-shaped key '54, while a collar 55 is secured to the rear extremityof the shaft by a fastening device 56. The collar 55 and the largeextremity of the link 52 respectively and directly engage adjacentextremities of two hinge sleeves 43 of the same table, while these `twosleeves 43 of one table are in direct engagement with correspondingsleeves 43 of the other table, the

two sleeves 43 of the last named table being between the sleeves 43-ofthe first named table. c

In order to raise and lower the tables, whereby they are caused toassume positions suitable respectively for loading the table with pulp,concentrating the same, and

finally discharging the concentrates, cams 57 are employed, these camsbeing mounted on the shaft 37 which is journaled in the framework asshown at. 58. These cams are se- 'c'ured to the shaft in such a mannerthat 4table as shown at 67, the member 64 having a turn-buckle 6,8 forregulating its length.

As illustrated in the drawing two of these cams 57 are employed, bothcams acting automatically and in unison to regulate the transverseinclination of the tables 12, and as the cams are interposed between thetwo pairs of toggles, the various movements rre- Vsulting from theaction of the cams are given the tables alternately. Each of these camshas three faces, whose radii vary. lFor instance, from a point/A on theouter surface of each cam to a point B traveling in the direction of thearrow, is a face D, every part of which is equally distant from thecenter of the cam shaft 37. This face of the cam has the maximum degreeof eccentricity. From the point B traveling in the same direction, toapoint E', is an inwardly curved lrecess F. The face formed by thisrecess is nearest the center of motion, and

thecentral point of the recess isnearer the lower extremity as shown at66, and when -this member is forced outwardly away from t-he center ofthe cam shaft, to the greatest degree, by the cam, the exterior angleformed by the toggle members 62 and 64, or the angle nearer the cam, isgreater than a right angle; in other words, the toggle members arealways bent inwardly toward the center of motion, whereby the tableswill increase their inclination by gravity whenever they are permittedto do so by the variation in the eccentricity or radialr distance of thevarious faces of the cams. For instance, referring to Fig. 3, the table`12 on the right-hand side is raised to its upward limit of movement,its inclination being only slight, varying but little from thehorizontal. This is by virtue of the fact that the anti-frictionalroller 61 is in engagement with the face D farthest from the center ofmotion of the cams 57. This condition of the right-hand table 12 (seeFig. 3) will be maintained during the entire time that the face D is inengagement with the anti-frictional roller 61 on the right-hand side ofthe machine. However, after the points A on the cams 57 when rotating inthe direction of the arrow on the cam exposed in Fig. 3, have passed therollers 61 on the right-hand side of the cam, the table 12 on thecorresponding side will increase its inclination slightly by reason .ofthe lf act that the face G, which will next engage the same roller,-

maintained during the ent-ire time that the faces G of the two cams arein engagement with the rollers 61 on the right-hand side of the machine,after which these rollers will drop into the recesses F, whose bottomsare the nearest points with reference to the center of motion, and thetable in question will assume, by gravity, its greatest inclination.

During the time that the rollers 61 of either pair of toggles on thesame side of the machine are in engagement with the faces D of the cams57, the table is in a position nearly horizontal, or in a position ofslight inclination, and it is during this period that the pulp is fed tothe table from the box 7, by virtue of the peculiar position of therocking deflector 19, which is automatically controlled to harmonizewith the positions of the tables as heretofore intimated. Now as thefaces D of the cams leave the rollers 61 of either pair of toggles onthe same side when traveling in the aforesaid direction, the saidrollers will en gage the faces Gr and the inclination of the table willbe slightly increased, as shown at the left in Fig.` 8. During this timethe feed of pulp to the table is interrupted by the automatic shiftingof the deiiector 19,.

and the treatment of the ore upon the table for the purpose ofseparating the values from the gangue is continued wit-hout interruptionuntil the recessed face E of each cam engages the roller 61 of thetoggle member in question, when the table falls by gravity to itsgreatest degree of inclination, whereby the concentrates are dischargedtherefrom, the fiow of water to the table being continued during theentire time that the rollers 61 of either pair of toggle members on thesame side of the machine are in engagement with the faces Gr and F ofthe cams 57. It will therefore be understood that in the first instance,or when either table is in nearly a flat or horizontal position, thepulp is fed to the table to the necessary depth to constitute a charge.The table then slightly changes its inclination and the separation ofthe gangue from the concentrates is continued, the discharge of pulp tothe table being interrupted. The table then assumes its greatestinclination for the purpose of discharging the concentrates therefrom,the passage of the wash water to the table being continued for thispurpose.

During the time that the tables are actuated as heretofore explained,troughs adapted to respectively receive the discharge of gangue andconcentrates from the tables are correspondingly and automaticallyactuated. As illustrated in the drawing there are two sets of troughs G9mounted on each side of the machine, each set having a continuous bottomand separated into two or three compartments, as may be desired. Whenonly two grades of material are required two movable partitions 72interposed between the side walls 73 are brought together at the top,their lower extremities being rounded as shown at 74 and engagingrecesses or groves of corresponding shape 75. In this event the gangueis discharged into the outermost compartment 76, while the concentratesare discharged into the innermost compartment 77. When, however, it isdesired to separate the material discharged from the tables into threegrades, namely, gangue, concentrates and middlings, the two movablepartitions 72 are placed in the upright position (see the right-handside of Fig. 1), whereby a middle compartment 78 is formed. In thisevent the gangue is discharged into the outermost compartment 7 6; theconcentrates, or the best grade thereof, into the innermost compartment77; while the compartment 78 receives what may be termed a middlingsgrade, containing some metallic values. These troughs are mounted uponhorizontally disposed metal bars 79 which extend underneath the bottom70 of each trough, each bar or strap being pivotally connected as shownat 80 with the upper extremities of two parallel bars 81 whose lowerextremities are pivotally connected as shown at 82 with the base 83 ofthe frame. The parallel bars 81 of each pair are connected intermediatetheir extremities by a link S4, the extremities of the link beingpivotally connected with the respective bars as shown at 85. Connectedwith one bar 81 of each pair of parallel bars as shown at 87, is a rod86 whose opposite extremity is connected as shown at 8S with anoscillating bar 89, whose lower extremity is pivotally connected withthe base of the structure as shown at 90. Each of these bars 89 carriesan anti-frictional roller 91 adapted to be engaged by a cam 92 securedto the shaft 37 by setbolts 93, whereby the cams are ro@ tatablyadjustable upon the shaft, in case it is desired to vary their positionto enable them to accurately perform their function in the regulation ofthe position of the troughs 69 to harmonize with the position of thetables.

As illustrated in the drawing there are two cams 92 located near eachextremity of the machine, the individual cams of each pair respectivelyacting on the two adjacent bars 89, one cam acting to move its bar inone direction, and the other cam acting to move its bar in the oppositedirection. By virtue of this construction two cams 92 simultaneously actto raise each set of troughs, the two sets of troughs on opposite sidesof the machine being alternately raised and lowered. Itwill therefore beunderstood that each set of troughs is supported by two pairs ofparallel bars 81, which act in harmony under the influence of the cams82 acting on the oscillating bars 89. Each of these cams 92 has arelatively flat face 94 whose cent-ral portion is quite close to thecenter of motion or the center of the cam shaft 37. When the cam isinthis position the set of troughs 69 controlled thereby is allowed todrop to its lowest position (see Fig. 1 where the troughs on theleft-hand side are at their lowest limit of movement), whereby thecompartment 77 is adapted to receive the discharge of concentrates fromthe table which is at its lowest limit of inclination. At the same timethatone pair of cams 92 is in position to allow the troughs on theleft-hand side of the machine to fall to their lowest limit of movement,the corresponding set of troughs on the right-hand side of the machineis raised by the actionl of a corresponding cam on they oscillating bar89 farther toward the left. y

Each cam 92 has three faces, namely, what may be termed the flat face94, the face of a face 96 located nearer the center of motion than theface 95. From this it will be understood that when the face 94 of thecam 92 controlling a set of troughs has the cent-ral portion of its flatface in engagement with t-he roller 91 of its corresponding oscillatingbar 89, the set of troughs controlled by this cam will be at its lowestlimit of movement; while when the face 95 is in engagement with the saidroller the set of troughs will be raised to its highest position; whilewhen the face 96 of the cam engages the same roller the set of troughsis in an intermediate posit-ion harmonizing with the position of thecorresponding table when the faces G of the cams 57 act upon theant-i-frictional devices of the toggles controlling the said table.

' In order to maintain the movable partitions 72 in the trough structurein the vertical position, whereby the intermediate compartment 78 isformed, to the upper edge of each partition is applied a cap having alongitudinal groove adaptedto receive the upper edge of the partition.Each of these caps is provided at its extremitieswith hooks 97 adapted`to engage the opposite ends of the trough structure, thus securing thecaps in place and locking the partitions in the vertical position, asindicated at the right of Fig. 1.

Each of the trough vided with an opening'98 in communication with adepending outlet nozzle 99. These nozzles are arranged to discharge intolaunders 100, 101 and 102 respectively,the concentrates passing into thelaunder 100, the middlings (if a middlings grade is desired) into thelaunder 101, and the gangue into the launder 102. These launders arearcompartments is pro- Aranged sufficiently below the trough struc-*ture to permit the latter the necessary vertical movement, whereby itsposition is made --to harmonize with the varying positions of itscorresponding tablek as heretofore described.

. The necessary power for imparting the reciprocating movement to thetables and for actuating the cam shaft, may be derived from any suitableengine yor motor (not shown), adapted to be connected with the shaft 49by means of a pulley 103. To the extremity of the shaft 49 opposite thepulley is secured a cone-shaped friction gear 104 which engages afriction wheel 105 fast on a shaft 106, which as illustrated in thedrawing is inclined at an angle Aof about 45 degrees. This shaft isjournaled intermediate its extremities in a box 107, its lower extremityengaging a step-box 108 secured to the bottom of the head motionframework 109. Upon the shaft 106 is a worm 110 which engages a wormwheel 112 fast on the V cam shaft 37. f maximum eccentriclty 95, whichmerges into From the foregoing description the opera- `tion of myimproved concentrator will be readily understood. As the shaft 49 isrotated, the reciprocating vibratory movement is imparted simultaneouslyto both tables through the medium of the eccentric strap 51 which isconnected with the shaft 13 upon which the tables are hinged asheretofore explained. Simultaneously with the imparting of thereciprocating movement to the tables, the worm shaft v106 is operatedand a relatively slow movement imparted to the cam shaft 37. Themovement of the cam shaft results in the automatic operation of all themovable elements of the mechanism, through the instrumentality of thevarious cams mounted thereon, and the connections between the said camsand the elements to be actuated hereinbefore described in detail. Theoperation of these various parts will now bev briefly and connectedlydescribed.

The relatively small cams. 36 act upon the rods 34 to simultaneouslymove the water gate 17 and the pulp deflector 19, these two elementsbeing shifted in opposite directions, whereby the water is delivered toeither table simultaneously with the cutting olf of the pulp dischargeto the same table by virtue of the connections heretofore described. Themovement of the cams 57 act-ing through the toggles 63 serves` toalternately raise and lower the tables on opposite sides of the machine,whereby the inclination of each table is changed successively from itsinitial position, in which itis only slightly inclined, to

cams 57 are acting upon the toggles 68 which control the table inquestion. As soon, however, as the faces G of the cams are brought intoengagement with the same toggles, the inclination of the table isslightly increased, the feed of pulp thereto simultaneously cut off, andthe discharge of water thereto commences by virtue of the automaticmechanism heretofore described. While the faces G of the cams are inengagement with the toggles in question, the operation of separating thegangue from the concentrates or values is going on, this operation beingcompleted by the time the faces F of the cams engage the said toggles,in which event the table drops to its position of greatest inclination,whereby the concentrates are discharged. It will be understood that bothtables are simultaneously actuated by the saine pair of cams 57, thevarious steps and the movements of the tables being, however,alternately completed; since the tables are arranged on opposite sidesof the center of motion of the actuating cams.

Simultaneously with the movement of the tables into their variouspositions heretofore described, the trough structures 69 are operated inharmony with the operation of the tables, whereby the latter are allowedto discharge the various grades of material into as many differentcompartments of the troughs. These movements of the trough structuresare brought about through the instrumentality of four cams 92, two ofthese cams acting upon one of the trough structures and the other twoupon the other trough structure, by virtue of the connections heretoforedescribed.

An important feature of my improvement consists in the fact that eachtable has a plurality of decks arranged one above another, provisionbeing made for feeding the material( simultaneously to the variousdecks. This is something more than mere duplication, since with asingle-deck table it is diiiicult to properly regulate the feed of thematerial thereto. That is to say, it is difficult to feed itsufficient-ly slowly without danger of its being cut off altogether bythe clogging of the relatively small passages through which it must passfrom the source of supply. However, by employing tables with a number ofdecks, the discharge from the source of supply may be made throughrelatively large passages, thus completely overcoming the cloggingdifficulty, since the various decks of the table will handle arelatively large quantity of material, which may be delivered to acommon launder mounted upon the upper deck of each table and movablewith the latter. Furthermore, by the eniployinent of plural-deckedtables fed from a common launder mounted on the uppermost deck andhaving feed passages leading tc all the decks, the latter may berelatively close together and the operator in charge only need watch thetop deck, since the operation inust be identical on all the decks. Byvirtue of this construction the capacity of the table may beindefinitely increased without requiring any additional care orattention on the part of the operator.

It will be understood that by feeding the pulp to a single-deck tablethe passages leading from the pulp trough must be relatively small andeasily clogged. On the contrary, by employing a common launder mountedon the table and equipped with passages leading to the various decks,these passages may be as large as desired, and as long as they are ofuniform size each deck will receive its proper proportion of thematerial delivered to the common launder, it being understood that thepassages leading from the common launder are large enough to allow allo-f the material fed to the launder to pass to the table decks as fastas it enters the launder, since there need be no accumulation of pulp inthe latter. However, with the common feed trough it is different asthere must be an accumulation of material therein, and consequently thepassages leading therefrom to supply pulp to the table must measure thequantity of pulp delivered thereto, and if the table is a single-deckstructure the passages inust only be half the size that could beemployed where a double-deck table is to be supplied. It will thereforebe seen that by increasing the number of decks a relatively largequantity of pulp may be supplied from the original source of pulpsupply, thus making` it practicable to make the openings sufficientlylarge to prevent the possibility of clogging.

It is found in actual practice where single-deck tables are employed, ashas been the practice heretofore, that the operator usually feeds agreater quantity of pulp to the table than is required iii order toproduce the best results, but he considers it advisable to do thisrather than take chances of having the supply passages clogged. ln otherwords, the evil resulting from the clogging of the relatively smallpassages is greater than that resulting from feeding an oversupply ofpulp to the table. However, with my improved construction it will beunderstood that this difliculty may be entirely overcome, since thenumber of decks may be increased indefinitely.

Attention is called to the fact that in my improved construction thepulp is subdivided and delivered to the various table decks after it hasbeen distributed. Hence the construction involves a distributing launderand a subdividing launder. The l distributing launder comprises theregular box or trough containing the source of pulp supply. From thislaunder the pulp passes 'yiconcentrating decks connected for common tothe launder where it is subdivided and delivered to the respectivevdecksk of the table. n From the detailed description heretofore given ofmy improved duplex double construction and arrangement, whereby twotables are located on opposite sides of the center o-f the machine, eachtable being ar! ranged to be given a relatively steep inclination everytime the `operating cams 57 make a complete rotation, each table is atits relatively steep inclination for a short time only or while theanti-frictional bear ing rollers 63 are in engagement with the recessedfaces Fy of the two cams which control Vthe tables. From an inspectionof these cams it will be observed that the two faces I) and Gr areapproximately equal in length with the short recessed face` F interposedbetween them on one side of the cam. Hence it follows that the pulp isfed to each table about half of the timel and out off therefrom duringthe other khalfof the time, the period ywhen it is cut off beingeinployed in treating or concentratingthe charge delivered to the table,while it is controlled by the faces D of the cams. It will be furtherunderstood that during the time that a charge of pulp is being fed toone table, it is cut oif from the other table, the separation at thattime taking place upon the .lat-ter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a plurality of concentrating decks, a pulpdistributer, comprising a receptacle substantially equal in length tothe feed space of each deck, said receptacle having unobstructeddischarge openings of relatively large capacity, said` openingsadapted-to deliver the pulp in distributed volume, sub-dividing meansintermediate said decks and the distributer adapted to deliver the pulpto the respective decks, said'sub-dividing means being proportioned andadapted to deliverk the pulp from the distributer to the respectivedecks without restraint.

2. In combination, a plurality of concentrating decks, arranged oneabove another, a pulp distributer comprising a receptacle substantiallyequall in length to the feed space of each deck, said receptacle havingunobstructed discharge "openings of relatively large capacity, saidopenings adapted to deliver the pulp in distributed volume, sub-dividingmeans mounted on the uppermost deck below the distributer and adapted todeliver the pulp to the respective decks, said sub-dividing means beingproportioned and adapted-to deliver the pulp from .the distributer tothe respective decks without restraint. i f y 3. In combination,A aplurality vof similar actuation, akpulp distributer comprising areceptacle substantially equal in length to the feed space of each deck,said receptacle having unobstructed discharge openings of relativelylarge capacity, said openings adapted to deliver the pulp in distributedvolume, sub-dividing means intermediate said decks and the distributeradapted todeliver the pulp to the respective decks, said sub-dividingmeans being proportioned and adapted to deliver the pulp from thedistributer to the respective decks withoutfrestraint. c

` 4. In combination a plurality of similar concentrating decks connectedfor common.'

actuation and arranged one above another, a pulp distributer comprisinga receptacle substantially equal in length to the feed space of eachdeck, said receptacle having unobstructed discharge openings ofrelatively large capacity, said openings adapted to deliver the pulp indistributed volume, sub-dividing means intermediate said decks andthedistributer adapted to .deliver the pulp to the respective decks,said sub-dividing means being proportioned and adapted to deliver thepulp from the distributer to the respective decks without restraint.

5. Incombination a plurality of similar concentrating decks connectedfor common actuation and arranged one above another, a pulp distributercomprising a receptacle substantially equal in length to the feed spaceof eachdeck, said receptacle having unobstructed discharge openings ofrelatively large capacity, said openings adapted to deliver the pulp indistributed volume, subdividing means mounted ony the uppermost v6. Incombination, a plurality of conceni trating tables, a feeder adapted tofeed. pulp in distributed volume, delivery means interposed between saidtables 'and said feeder, adapted to deliver the pulp from the feeder initsk distributed form and without restraint of volume, and `means foroperating said delivery means for alternate delivery and cut off of pulpsupplyto each table in succession.

7 In combination a plurality of concentrating tables, a feeder adaptedto f eed pulp in distributed volume, delivery means interposed betweensaid tables and said feeder adapted to deliver the p ulp from the feederin its distributed form without restraint of volume, said delivery meansincluding a deflector pivoted between thetables which are arranged endto end, and means for operating said dellector for alternate deliveryand cut off of pulp supply to each table in suc cession.

8. In combination a plurality of concentrating tables arranged end toend, a feeder adapted to feed pulp in distributed volume, delivery meansinterposed between said tables and said feeder adapted to deliver thepulp from the feeder in its distributed form and without restraint ofvolume, said delivery means including a detlector pivoted between thetables, and means connected with the deiiector for maintaining equalityin the periods of delivery to the respective tables.

9. In combination a plurality of concentrating tables, a feeder adaptedto feed pulp in distributed volume, delivery means interposed betweensaid tables and said feeder adapted to deliver the pulp from the feederin its distributed form and without restraint of volume, means foroperating said delivery means for alternate delivery and out off of pulpsupply to each table in succession, and water supply means adapted todeliver water to t-he respective tables during the period when the pulpsupply is cut off.

10. In combination a plurality of concentrating tables, a feeder adaptedto feed pulp in distributed volume, delivery means interposed betweensaid tables and said feeder adapted to deliver' the pulp from the feederin its distributed form and without restraint of volume, means foroperating said delivery means for alternate delivery and cut oft' ofpulp supply to each table in succession, water supply means adapted todeliver water to the respective tables during the period when the pulpsupply is cut off, and a connection between the pulp defiector and thewater supply means adapted to operate the latter on the movement of thedeflector.

11. The combination of a tiltable concentrating table, means connectedwith the table to tilt the latter to three positions of successivelygreater inclination and maintain the inclinations for predetermined periods, means for supplying pulp during the period of least inclinationand for cut oif of pulp during the periods of increased inclination, andmeans for supplying water during the two periods of greater inclination,the water supply means being the same and common to the table when inboth positions.

12. The combination of a tiltable concentrating table, a cam havingthree faces, means connected to the table and bearing upon said cam, thefaces of the cam being proportioned to tilt the table to the threepositions of successively greater inclination and maintain theinclinations for predetermined periods, means for supplying pulp duringthe period of least inclination and for cutting oif the supply duringthe periods of increased inclination and means for supplying waterduring the two periods of greater inclination.

18. The combination of a tiltable concen trating table, a cam havingthree faces, means connected to the table and bearing upon said cam, thefaces of the cam being proportioned to tilt the table to the threepositions of successively greater inclination and maintain theinclinations for predetermined periods, means for supplying pulp duringthe period of least inclination and for cutting off the supply duringthe periods of increased inclination, and means for supplying waterduring the two periods of greater inclination, the relative length ofthe three faces being such that the time during which the tables aremaintained in the first and second positions is relatively long andapproximately equal, while the time during which they are maintained inthe third position is relatively short.

14. The combination of a tiltable concentrating table, means connectedwith the table to tilt the latter to three positions of successivelygreater inclination and maintain the inclinations for predetermined periods, means for supplying the pulp during the period of leastinclination and for cutting off the supply during the periods ofincreased inclination and means actuated by the inclination-changingmeans, for supplying water during the two periods of greaterinclination. i Y

15. The combination of a tiltable concentrating table, a cam havingthree faces, means connected with the table and bearing upon said cam,the faces of the cam being proportioned to tilt the table to threepositions of successively greater inclination, the faces of the camvarying in length and their relative length being such that the table ismaintained in the first and second positions during the greater part ofthe time'while it occupies the third position for a relatively shortspace of time, means for supplying pulp during the period of leastinclination, means for cutting off the supply during the periods ofgreater inclination and means for supplying water during the two periodsof greater inclination.

16. The combination of a tiltable concentrating table, a cam havingthree faces, a connection between the cam and the table, the faces ofthe cam being proportioned to tilt the table to three positions ofsuccessively greater inclination and maintain the inclinations forpredetermined periods, means having actuating means in common with thetilting means for supplying the pulp during the period of leastinclination and for cutting off the supply during the periods ofincreased inclination and means for supplying water during the periodsof greater inclination.

17. The combination of a concentrating table tiltably mounted, means forautomatically changing the inclination of the table at predeterminedintervals, troughs adapted to receive the discharge of the gangue andconcentrates from the table, a parallel bar construction for supportingthe said troughs, a cam connected to the table-actuating-means, andacting on said construction for regulating the position of the troughsto harmonize With the variation in 10 the inclination of the table,substantially as described. n

In testimonywhereof I aiiix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

ARTHUR R. WILFLEY.k Witnesses: Y

F. E. BOWEN, JNO. Gr. POWELL.

Copies of this patent may ,be obtained fox` ve cents each, byvaddressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

